Power star Charlie Dixon takes on Crows skipper Rory Sloane in high-octane challenge at The Bend Motorsport Park
Port Adelaide forward Charlie Dixon and Adelaide Crows captain Rory Sloane hit the track recently to decide who is the fastest footballer in South Australia. See who was victorious.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- The Crows and Power players to watch when footy resumes
- Getting the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Powerhouse Port Adelaide key forward Charlie Dixon says his injured groin is completely healed and he is ready to hit the ground running when football resumes.
Revealing he had lost 3kg since the AFL’s postponement in March, Dixon said he had benefited from six weeks of arduous training alongside development coach and fitness fanatic Chad Cornes and Power teammate Peter Ladhams and was in the best physical condition of his life.
Now – with the AFL just days away from announcing a new fixture for the 2020 season – the 200cm, 107kg giant is desperate to show the football world just what he is capable of in a season where he is playing for his career.
“I’ve had a lot of time to get the body right and I’m ready to go and can’t wait for the season to start again,’’ Dixon told The Advertiser after taking on Crows captain Rory Sloane in an AFL Showdown at the Bend last Monday.
“I can’t remember the last time, if ever, that I have felt this good.
“It’s a shame that we’ve missed a lot of training and football but I’ve worked really hard with Chad and (ruckman) Pete Ladhams and I’m feeling the benefits of that.
“We’ve had to watch what we eat even more during the lockdown because we’re not doing quite as much load, so I’ve cut back on my food intake and lost a few kilos.
“If you combine that with the work I’ve been doing with Chad and Pete I’m feeling in great shape.
“We’ve been doing a lot of running sessions at Glenelg and then going to Chad’s place to finish off with big gym sessions.
“I’m extremely excited to get back out there playing again because I’ve got a lot riding on this year and I need to play football.’’
Out of contract at the end of the season, former Gold Coast ace Dixon, 29, has played just nine of Port’s past 25 matches after horrifically breaking his right leg against West Coast in round 21, 2018, and then struggling to come back from the career-threatening injury last year.
Widely considered the Power’s most important player, he then missed round one this season – the only round played so far this year because of the coronavirus pandemic – with a groin strain suffered in the club’s second pre-season hit out against the Western Bulldogs in Whyalla.
But Dixon, whose influence extends beyond just kicking goals because of his presence and ability to bring teammates into games, enjoyed a strong pre-season and now believes he is ready to lead the Power’s charge to a second AFL flag.
“It was so disappointing to miss round one because everyone wants to play in the first game of the season,’’ said Dixon, who has kicked 118 goals in 70 games for Port after signing a lucrative five-year deal in 2015.
“I also haven’t played back up on the Gold Coast since I left so it would have been nice to have that game again but hopefully there’s a few more opportunities to do that.
“Now I’m just keen to get into round two.’’
Dixon – a motor car fanatic who restores old vehicles for fun – surprisingly came off second best in his showdown with Sloane at The Bend Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend.
Filmed for The Bend’s Facebook page and available to view on SATV, the head-to-head battle was to support local tourism industries during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Sloane edged Dixon in open wheelers in the 10-lap time trial on the skid pan in wet conditions.
“He’s a bit lighter than me so he managed to get around the first corner a lot better than I did,’’ Dixon said.
“But for a car-head like me it was amazing fun. With my Youtube channel I like to be able to put some stuff back together and I’ve been out to the Bend a number of times but never done the skin pan, so it was awesome.’’